Since I’m about to publish a novel called The Tattooed Heart — you can read the first chapter here — I’ve been thinking about love in all its guises, including vulnerability; and wondering what love has to do with public speaking.

Here’s what I’ve come up with so far:

As a good (read: authentic and conscientious) public speaker, you’re “showing the love” in three different ways:

Love For Yourself —

Good public speakers honor themselves, their views, and their own accomplishments.  They don’t try to act like someone else, and they don’t try to prove themselves by being perfect.  They “just” accept themselves, and so the audience does the same.

Love for Your Audience—

Your speech can’t succeed unless you connect with the people in your audience, so make sure to show them the love, too. Speak to them person to person, treat them as equals (not better than you, not worse), meet their eyes, and smile from time to time to show you like being with them.

Love for Your Content—

It’s hard to love content that’s obscure, or buried in jargon, or loaded up with embellishments that your audience probably won’t even hear, let alone absorb.  Dig out your main points and present them proudly, so that your listeners can love and appreciate them like you do.

Skill + Attitude = Success

Of course, public speaking isn’t just about your attitude — but attitude is a great place to start.